Rio de Janeiro’s Brazilian heritage sites, bars, pubs and dives contribute a lot to our love of history. Don’t think I’m crazy or that this is just bohemian love talk. “Don’t even come with that,” my late grandfather Paolo, who loved bottled wine and hated sangria, would say. Okay, I will. If we want to study the arrival of the Portuguese in 1500, we need only head to Belmonte, the birthplace of Pedro Álvares Cabral. Since we are associated with men, we can include Adonis in the conversation, which is located in a neighborhood that represents Portuguese immigration well: Benfica. Located near Vasco da Gama, it’s not a bar, but it also helps us talk about great commutes.
- Praça onze que o Rio It was destroyed by tia ciata, samba and religiosity
- The barra present in Rio’s daily life
Many people from the most diverse places in Brazil and beyond have marked and continue to chart our path. The customs area in the center was home to Arabs and Jews. Many of these were fleeing persecution or war. The kitchen ended up spreading to other places in the city. It is no coincidence that we find Restaurante Sírio e Libanes in Senor dos Passos, and Rotisseria Sírio Libanesa in Largo do Machado. Spanish can be studied at Bar Madre, in Tijuca. Germans at Casa Jurich. Before cream cheese married sushi, in the 1940s, there was a Japanese restaurant on São Conrado. The beginnings of the Japanese presence in Rio de Janeiro. Residents of the Northeast came in droves, not only in search of jobs, but also to escape intermittent drought. For example, Rocinha embraced people from Pernambuco, Ceará and Bahia. What restaurant is located in Estrada da Gávea, at the top of Roça? Northeast of Rocinha.
The empire is remembered at every corner. Neighborhoods characterized by large palaces, such as the Rio Compredo and Catumbe, served as strongholds for viscounts, barons, and baronetces. Not surprisingly, there is Bar Condesa in Aristides Lobo, with its sidewalk chairs and large doses of alcohol. Dom Pedro, we don’t know if it’s me or the other, became the name of a restaurant in Francisco Manuel. The Queen is honored in Leblon, a neighborhood that today boasts one of the most expensive square meters on the planet, but was once a quilombo. Not to drop the ball, this immediately reminds me of Rabuchas, in the Botanical Garden, which takes us to the Rebaukas brothers, important artisans in the fight against slavery.
If you want to find the most different religions, there will be no shortage of options. To salute the Queen of the Sea and learn about the gods, there is a Dois de Feverero in Largo da Prainha. Is it downloaded? Do you need to confront the dragon? Boteco São Jorge, in Andaray. Bar da Encruza, in Santa Teresa, transports us to the magic of Axé. There are those who leave renewed. Why do we go to the Vatican to see the Pope? In Cascadura, in addition to coming face to face with the ideal double of Pope Francis, it is possible to discuss the formation of the Catholic Church, its presence in the Brazilian path and the important names behind the religion. Fernando Ferreira, Pope Francis of the suburbs, usually blesses the faithful who are there. Do you want to know a little about the Bible? There is Adão, in Grajaú. Since we live in Rio and everything here becomes the plot of a samba or a TV series, Bar da Eva opened next door.
- Katumbi’s hidden stories: A neighborhood synonymous with elegance and prestige in the 19th century
“He who has a dream does not dance,” Kazuza wrote. If the poet were alive, he would have found two “Sonho Lindo” bars on the same street as Das Larangeiras. It’s a square dream. Before you think, they are not part of the same network. Taking advantage of the fact of their proximity to RioFilme, this is already a reason to study Barão Vermelho, Bete Balanço and national cinema.
With the doors of the famous Bar Luiza closed, on Rua da Carioca, the bartender had an idea: open Bar Luiza. The delicacies are reminiscent of the golden era of the bar that marked history by popularizing draft beer in Brazil. One problem: Louisa’s menu initially was very similar to Louise’s. He was even accused of plagiarism. A quick gang in the barrel changed the configuration and all was well. Good when that’s the case.
Who would have imagined that Joao Martins, the famous samba singer from this new group, would open a bar? This is what he did with Kitanda, in Katete. Why don’t we talk about a time when samba artists couldn’t perform, let alone have institutions that openly celebrated the rhythm?
Marcelo Mac and his partner Rafael did not accept the closing of the doors of the bar in Larangeiras. Didn’t they create Miolo, who has great success in General Glicerio? There are always exhibitions. A good suggestion for anyone who wants to understand how pubs influenced urban art, and vice versa.
I always follow the blog “Saideira” written by journalists Marina Gonçalves and Claudia Meneses. This is where I catch up on the latest news and look for inspiration. I will still invite you to cross Kalangu, Kubinia and Amandoeira.
What bars did you forget? Send email here. Will we have a part two?